PCA

At Ames Shovel Works, we unlocked this historic site’s potential by blending the architecture of these beautiful granite buildings back into the town fabric. Ames Shovel Works enlivened Easton, MA not only through the preservation of a historic landmark, but also through the introduction of a wastewater treatment plant which gave increased capacity to the town.

The project creatively repurposed this 19th century manufacturing complex previously cited as one of the nation’s Most Endangered Historic Landmarks by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The revitalization preserved the site’s original fabric to create new housing for the community. Through the use of the original building, Ames Shovel Works becomes a model for sustainable design.

Client partner: Beacon Communities LLC
📸: John Horner and Christian von Stackelberg

As warm weather approaches, we’re excited to drink up some summertime at our favorite bars in the city.

A spot we find ourselves returning to again and again - Pressed Café at the Prudential. Operating as a café by day and a bar by night, this dimly lit and moody lounge is perfect for unwinding after work, a date or meeting up with friends during a night out.

Client partner: Pressed Café
📸: Anton Grassl

At PCA community is a process. In partnership with Just A Start and the Somerville Community Land Trust, we are shaping housing at 297 Medford Street with the people who will live around it.

Through open public design sessions, Somerville residents, neighbors and stakeholders are invited to engage and share input that directly informs the design. The focus is on listening, observing how people gather and connect, and translating that into spaces that feel inclusive and grounded in the community.

This project will transform a vacant lot into permanently affordable homes that remain accessible to current and future community members, while reflecting the character of the neighborhood.

As PCA's team of sustainable designers continues to grow, so does our understanding of the decarbonization of operations + embodied carbon in both existing and new buildings.

Our in-house carbon experts develop actionable plans for sustainability improvements, specify healthy building materials and maintain a holistic understanding of the life cycle of a building.

To continue this conversation, meet up with PCA's Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) Specialist and ‘Technical Workflows for Carbon Reduction’ panelist Juhi Goel, Sustainability Principal Laura Homich, Director of Sustainability DiAnn Tufts and sustainable design expert Ben Wakelin at the Carbon Expert Summit in Boston on May 7th!

Register here: tinyurl.com/t2xhawdh

Today, we're taking a look back at RADIUS in Allston, MA.

As one of the first major developments on the northern edge of the Western Avenue Corridor, RADIUS greets travelers and residents as they cross into Boston from Watertown and sets the tone for the entire neighborhood.

The sophisticated aesthetic caters to the growing population of young professionals in the area. The thoughtfully designed building façade in combination with fresh interior design, inspired by the nearby Charles River, make for an unforgettable atmosphere.

Client partner: The Mount Vernon Company
Photos: Anton Grassl